Valveless flush tank



Nov. 25, 1941. v. A .HOFFMANN VALVELESSF LUSH TANK Filed March 25; 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l o INVE OR. fig, 7. X

ATTORNEY.

NOV. 25, 194 1. v, HQFFMANN I 2,264,258

VALVELESS FLUSH TANK Filed March 25, 1939 3 Sheet-Sheet 2 INVE TOR. BY g 7. 2*7

ATTORNEY.-

Nov. 25, 1941.

v. A. HOFFMANN VALVELESSLITLUSH TANK s Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 25; 1939 INVENTOR.

' ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 25, 1941 UNETED VALVELESS FLUSH TANK Victor A. Hoffmann, Harvey, I11.

Application March 25, 1939, Serial No. 264,180

12 Claims. (Cl. 137-106) This invention relates to an improved valveless flush tank which is adapted to be concealed within a conventional partition and which may be used in conjunction with a variety of standard or special type toilet bowls.

One of the principal objects of importance and advantage of the improved device of this invention resides in the provision of means for furnishing sufficient volume of water under low pressure to operate a conventional, residential type toilet bowl, with an automatic flush valve.

A still further object of advantage and importance resides in the provision of means whereby the device may be installed within a partition without providing any working space whatsoever for the device or, except the cover provided for the concealed automatic flush valve, any special removable cover or panel for adjustment purposes.

An additional object of advantage and importance resides in the provision of means for accurately measuring and supplying the correct amount of water required for refilling the bowl after the flushing operation has been completed.

A further object of advantage resides in the provision of means for directing a jet of water into the syphon of a bowl prior to the admission of the volume of water required for flushing the bowl.

Still another object of advantage and importance of the improved device of this invention is the provision of means for admitting into the tank precisely the amount of water required to completethe flushing operation.

An additional object of importance and advantage is the economical production of a concealed flushing tank which is silent in operation, contains no moving parts, and is practically foolproof.

Additional objects of advantage and importance will become apparent as the following detailed description progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a flush tank which embodies the invention, parts thereof being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the tank.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a tank,

parts thereof being broken away, showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on line 88 of Fig. '7, and

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 99 of Fig. 7.

As shown in the drawings: 7

The reference numeral l0 indicates generally, the body of the tank of this invention. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the body 10 comprises an upper l2 and lower compartment I4. Where it is found desirable or necessary, the upper portion of the lower compartment 14 may be recessed or offset as is indicated by the reference numeral l6 to provide a passageway for a vent pipe (not shown).

Positioned in the upper compartment 12 and having the discharge leg l8 thereof projecting into the lower compartment I4 is a siphon 20. A portion of the upper part of the discharge leg I8 is divided, as is indicated by the reference numeral 24, to facilitate siphonic action. The lower end of the inner portion .of the divided siphon leg is restricted, as is best shown by the referencenumeral 24, to further facilitate and quicken the siphonic action of the part.

Positioned on the intake end of the siphon 20 closely adjacent the floor of the compartment 52 is a tapered hood 26. The hood '26with its expanded lower part allows an increased volume of water to pass between the lower edge thereof and the floor of the compartment and also by its close proximity to the floor allows, substantially, all of the water to be siphoned from the compartment before the siphon seal is broken. The hood also performs a dual function in that it admits into the intake of the siphon a su'flicient quantity of 'air to completely break the seal, thus preventing further siphonic action as the tank refills.

Positioned in the lower compartment I4 and having its discharge leg 28 projecting downward therethrough is a siphon Bil. It is to be noted that the siphon 30 has a capacity much greater than the capacity of the siphon -29. The upper portion of the discharge leg 23 of the siphon 36 is divided as is best shown by the reference numeral 32 and has one discharge end of the divided portion restricted 34 in the same manner as the siphon 2E. The divided discharge legand the restricted portion 34 thereof tends to facilitate and hasten siphonic action of the part.

Formed at one side of the lower compartment M by the dividing wall 35 is a refill chamber 36. The refill chamber 36 has a discharge opening 3'! in the bottom thereof as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 6. The discharge opening 31 empties into the muiller chamber 12. Thus it is adapted to drain the refill chamber into the bowl to bring the water in the bowl to its proper level.

Formed in the Wall of the lower compartment l4 within the refill chamber 36 is a siphon jet chamber 38. A discharge opening 40 extends from the siphon jet chamber 38 through the floor of the compartment I4 to a point 42, where it may be connected to the siphon jet of a bowl. Such a separate siphon jet opening is clearly shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 235,317. Both the refill chamber 36 and the siphon jet chamber 38 are open at the top. The top edges of the walls of each chamber are preferably on a common plane. However, where it is so desired the upper edge of the siphon jet chamber 38 may be elevated slightly above the level of the upper edge of the wall 35 of the refill chamber 36. This construction allows the refill chamber 36 to fill before water is directed into the siphon jet chamber 38.

Extending from the exterior of the body ill to a discharge point within the upper compartment 12 is a water supply passageway 44. The discharge opening of the passageway 44 is turned to direct the fiow of water therefrom, along the bottom of the compartment l2. This construction prevent undue bubbling and agitation and tends toward more quiet operation of the device.

Suspended within the compartment I2, closely adjacent the top, thereof, by an adjustable lever 46, is a non-absorbent displacement member 48. Adjustment of the displacement member 48 through the lever 46 is had by turning the thumb screw 50 on the adjustment rod 52. The displacement member may thus be lowered or raised to control the quantity of water within the compartment l2.

Positioned within the lower compartment 14 and adapted to be moved into and out of the refill chamber 36, for the purpose of controlling the quantity of water therein, is a displacement member 54. The displacement member 54 is suspended from an adjustable lever 56. Adjustment of the displacement member 54 may be had by turning the thumb screw 58 on the ad justment rod 60.

Extending upwardly from the bottom of the compartment l4 and through the compartment l2 to a discharge opening 62 is a vent passageway 64. The vent passageway 64 is provided with an opening 66 at the top of the mufiier compartment l2 and a like opening 68 at the top of the compartment 14. A third opening in the vent passageway 64 is provided adjacent the upper portion of the compartment l2. The vent passageway 64 emptie into the upper portion of the compartment I2 and thence is preferably continued from the opening 62 to some remote point to eliminate hissing or other undesired noises in the close vicinity of the device. Each of the compartments are vented through the Vent passageway 64.

Formed at the bottom of the compartment l4, directly beneath the discharge opening of the siphon 30, is a mufiler compartment 12. The mufller compartment 12 has a partition 14 extending below the lower side of the flushell 16 to provide a water seal, which is adapted to eliminate noise as water is passed from the siphon discharge 28 through the muliler compartment 12 into the fiushell 16.

The preferred embodiment of the invention, as hereinabove set forth and described, is particularly adapted for use in residential sections of cities where water pressure and volume available are frequently relatively low. The double compartment and double siphon incorporated in the preferred embodiment here set forth, are adapted to furnish a sufficient volume of water in a limited time, even though the supply pressure be reduced to the lowest point at which a flush Valve will operate, to elficiently carry out the flushing operation.

The improved tank of this invention is preferably installed between the studding of a partition during the roughing in period of construction. The outlet passageway 16 is connected to a toilet bowl. The outlet 42 for the siphon chamber 38 may be connected to an independent siphon jet opening of a bowl. Such an independent siphon jet opening is shown in my copending application Ser. No. 235,317. It will therefore be apparent that use of an independent passageway from the siphon jet chamber 38 to a siphon jet opening in a bowl permits the siphon jet to operate independently of the main flushing operation.

The inlet passageway 44 is connected to a valved source of water supply. A conventional flush valve is used in the supply line leading into the intake 44.

As the flush valve is operated, the incoming water is directed through the passageway 44 into the upper chamber l2. As the water level rises above the upper bend of the siphon 20, siphonic action starts and the water in the upper chamber [2 is directed away from the refill chamber 35 and the siphon jet chamber 38 by the inclined discharge leg I8 of the siphon 20. As the water level in the lower compartment I4 rises the refill chamber 35 is filled. The chamber 35, in turn, overflows into the siphon jet chamber 38. Water from the siphon jet chamber 38 is conveyed directly to the siphon jet of the bowl. This flow to the siphon jet starts prior to siphonic action through the siphon 36. It will therefore be apparent that discharge action in the bowl starts prior to the time water from the siphon 30 enters the bowl.

When the water from the lower compartment M is exhausted and the siphon seal is broken, water from the refill chamber 35 is discharged through the opening 31 and is then conveyed to the bowl through the passageway 16. This provides a means for refilling the bowl to the proper level after the flushing operation is completed.

The flush valve, in association with the intake 44, continues to operate until the upper compartment is partially refilled. The partial refilling of the upper compartment during the flushing operation tends to provide quick siphonic action when the flush valve is again operated. It will therefore be apparent that a complete cycle of operation is from a partly filled upper compartment, through a complete filling and discharge thereof, to a partly filled upper compartment.

A slightly modified form of the invention is shown in Figs. '7, 8,'and 9 which form is especially adapted for use where greater pressure is available. The construction of the modified form of the device and its operation is quite similar to the construction and operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention.- However,

in the modified form of the device, a single cornpartment and a single siphon are employed.

The compartment '80 in the modified form of the invention is substantially rectangular.

Positioned within the compartment 80, and having a discharge leg 82 extending to the exterior thereof, is a siphon 84. The siphon 84 is provided with a hood 86 at its intake end similar to and for the same purpose as is the hood 26 in the preferred embodiment. The upper end of the discharge leg of the siphon 84 is divided as is indicated by the reference numeral 82a. Formed within the compartment 80 is a refill chamber 88 and siphon jet chamber 90. The

chambers 83 and are connected at their up- 1 per portions by a trough 89 which is adapted to convey water from the filled refill chamber 83 into the siphon jet chamber 93. The upper edge of the wall of the chambers 88 and 90 is indicated by the reference numeral 9i. struction allows water from the refill chamber 88 to overfiow into the siphon jet chamber 90 before the water in the tank reaches a level sufficiently high to discharge into the bowl through the siphon. The action of the siphon jet starts the flow of the water through the bowl and thus prevents undue rising of the water level in the bowl as during the early part of the fiushin operation.

Secured to a supporting arm 92 is a non-absorbent displacement member 9 The displacement member 94 is adapted to be moved into and out of the refill chamber 88 to govern the quantity of water contained therein.

Suspended from an arm 96 within the compartment 8% is a displacement member 98. The displacement member 98 is adapted to be raised or lowered into the compartment 89 to govern the quantity of water required to overflow the bend in the siphon 84. The displacement member 98 is provided with a guide iii-i which is adapted to engage the outer wall of the refill chamber 88. The engagement between the guide I06 and the wall of the refill chamber 88 prevents the displacement member from tipping or tilting when it is raised or lowered into the compartment. Adjustment of the displacement members 94 and 98 is had through operation of the thumb screws 132 which screw-threadably engage the adjustment rods I04.

Positioned beneath the compartment Bil and having passageways extending thereinto is a fitting HBS. The fitting N36 is provided with an intake passageway 508 which is adapted to be connected with a source of water supply. The intake passageway H38 empties into the compartment 89 as is best shown in Fig. '7.

A passageway HG extends from the siphon jet chamber 90 through the fitting Hi6 and is adapted to be connected to the siphon jet opening of a bowl.

Formed in the fitting M is a passageway H2 which is adapted to convey water from the discharge leg 82 of the siphon through the fitting I06. A discharge opening I l 4 for the refill chamber 88 is made through the discharge leg 82 of the siphon. Water is adapted to pass slowly through the opening l l4 and thence into the bowl after the flushing operation is completed.

Extending upwardly from the fitting I06 through the compartment 89 is an air vent H6. The compartment 80 is vented through the outlet I l8. A passageway from the vent I I8 is preferable extended to some remote point.

Formed in the fitting I06 and extending to a This conpoint below the fiushell 1 I9 is a seal plate 120. The seal plate *is adapted to maintain water in the lower part of the compartment-14 to provide a seal against the passage of audible sound waves therethrough. A drain opening I22 is provided at the lowest point of the fitting I06.

'It will be apparent from the foregoing that herein is provided an efficient and practically indestructible flush tank which is especially adapted to be used where water pressure is relatively low.

It will also be apparent that the delivery of water through the siphon into the flushell is of greater volume than is delivery of water into the fiushtank through the intake opening during the same period.

Additionally, the foregoing disclosure clearly sets forth a flush tank which, because of the total absence of working or moving parts therein, may be completely enclosed within a wall or partition.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the device appertains, that numerous changes and alterations in the construction of the specific embodiments here disclosed may be made without departing from the spiritor scope of the invention. Accordingly it is understood that the patent granted hereon is not to be limited except as necessitated by the terminology of the appended claims when given the range of equivalence to which they may be entitled.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a flush tank, a watertight body, a siphon positioned within said body and having its discharge leg extending to the exterior thereof, an air passageway extending from the discharge end of the siphon to the upper interior portion of said body, an intake passageway adapted to convey water into said body, means for facilitating siphonic action when the water reaches a predetermined level, said means including an auxiliary tube extending from the bend in said siphon to a point therebelow, and adjustable means for controlling the quantity of water that may be held within said body, said adjustable means including a displacement member adapted to be maintained stationary at a predetermined location as the flush tank is operated. 2. In a flush tank, a watertight body having an inlet and an outlet passageway, said outlet passageway including a siphon, a refill chamber positioned within said flush tank, said refill chamber being formed by a wall extending upwardly from the bottom of said body to a point slightly below the bend of said siphon, a discharge opening extending from said refill chamber into the outlet passageway of said body, and means for eliminating noise as Water passes through said outlet passageway.

3. In a valveless flush tank, a body, a refill chamber within said body, means for admitting water into said body, and separate means for discharging the water from said body and said refill chamber into a common discharge passageway.

4. In a valveless flush tank, a body, a plurality of chambers within said body, means for admitting water into said body, means for directing a quantity of the water into one of said chambers after the water reaches a predetermined level, and independent means for discharging the water within said body and said chambers into a common discharge passageway simultaneously.

5. In a valveless flush tank, a body, a plurality of chambers within said body, displacement members suspended within said body, said displacement members being adapted to be adjustably positioned and maintained in certain of said chambers, means for admitting water into said body, means for directing a quantity of the water into said chambers after the water reaches a predetermined level, and means for starting the discharge of water from two of said chambers directly into a common discharge passageway at different intervals.

6. In a valveless flush tank, a body, a refill chamber and a siphon jet chamber positioned within said body, means for admitting water into said body and said chambers, means for starting the fiow of water from said siphon jet chamber when said water reaches a predetermined level, means for starting the discharge of water from said body when the water reaches a second level, and a restricted passageway providing means for delaying the discharge of water from said refill chamber.

7. In a flush tank, a watertight body, a refill chamber within said body, a siphon positioned within said body and having its discharge leg extending to the exterior thereof, an intake passageway adapted to convey water into said body, a discharge chamber located exteriorly of said body and in operable association with the discharge end of said siphon, a water seal within said discharge chamber, a discharge passageway extending from said refill chamber into said discharge chamber, and vent means extending from said discharge chamber into the interior of said body.

8. In a flush tank, a watertight body having an inlet and an outlet passageway, said outlet passageway including a siphon, a refill chamber positioned within said flush tank, a discharge opening extending from said refill chamber to the exterior of said body, and said outlet passageway and said discharge opening being independently operable and discharging into a common passageway.

9. In a fiush tank, a watertight body having an inlet and an outlet passageway, said outlet passageway including a siphon, a refill chamber positioned within said flush tank, said refill chamber being formed by a wall extending upwardly from the fioor of said body, a discharge opening in the floor of said refill chamber, a muffler compartment formed at the bottom of said body, said muiiler compartment forming a common passageway into which said discharge opening and said outlet passageway empty, vent means for admitting air to and from said muffler compartment, and a water seal in said mufiler compartment adapted to prevent the passage of operating noises from within the tank through said mufller compartment and also to prevent the backward passage of air into the emptied tank.

10. In a valveless fiush tank, a body having inlet and outlet openings, means for retarding the discharge of a portion of the water within said body as the remainder of the water within the body is discharged, said means comprising a refill chamber positioned within said body, means for filling said refill chamber from the water within said body as said water reaches a predetermined level, said refill chamber and said body being emptied into a common discharge passageway through independent discharge openings, and means for discharging the water from said body as said water reaches a predetermined level therein.

11. In a flush tank, a body comprising an upper and a lower compartment, an intake passageway leading from a source of supply into said upper compartment, means for governing the quantity of water within said upper compartment, siphon means for discharging the water from said upper compartment into said lower compartment as the water reaches a predetermined level in said upper compartment, siphon means for starting the flushing discharge of water from the lower compartment as it reaches a predetermined level, means for retarding the flow of a portion of the water within said lower chamber as the remainder of the water therein is discharged, said means comprising a refill chamber, means for filling said refill chamber as the water in said lower compartment reaches a predetermined level, adjustable displacement means for governing the quantity of water within said refill chamber, a discharge passageway operably connected to the siphon means for discharging water from the lower compartment and said refill chamher, and common vent means for relieving pressure in said discharge passageway said upper and said lower compartment, said vent means comprising an air passageway extending from the interior of said discharge passageway upwardly through both compartments and having vent connections with both of said compartments.

12, In a flush tank, a body adapted to hold water, inlet and outlet passageways in said body, and siphon means intermediate said inlet and outlet for increasing the volume of fiow at said outlet over the volume of flow at said intake, means for retarding the flow of a portion of the water within said body as the remainder thereof is discharged, said means comprising a refill chamber positioned within said body, said refill chamber being formed by a wall extending up wardly from the flow of said body, a displace-- ment member adapted to be selectively positioned and so maintained within said refill chamber, and a discharge passageway extending from said refill chamber to the outlet passageway of said body.

VICTOR A. HOFFMANN. 

